Suburbs in Sydney’s southwest among areas of particular concern as coronavirus outbreak continues

Authorities have singled out a large area in Sydney where they fear the virus is spreading and have urged people living there to get tested.

A large area in Sydney’s southwest has been singled out as “particularly concerning” as NSW health officials scramble to contain the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

Most of the 124 cases reported on Thursday were discovered in the council areas of Fairfield, Cumberland and Canterbury-Bankstown, with significant spread in Blacktown, Liverpool and Georges River as well.

Top NSW Health official Jeremy McAnulty read out a list of suburbs where he said it was extra important for locals to get tested for Covid-19.

“It’s so important that people come forward for testing so we can uncover cases quickly,” he told reporters.

“We’re particularly concerned about certain parts of Sydney, as you know, and parts of the country so I’m going to give you the areas where we’re particularly concerned that people come forward for testing if they have even the mildest of symptoms.”

A wide area in Sydney's southwest was singled out as particularly concerning.

Among the suburbs he mentioned were:

• Cumberland LGA, including Merrylands and Guildford
• Toongabbie
• Seven Hills
• Pendle Hill
• Mount Druitt
• Rooty Hill
• Wollongong
• Fairfield LGA
• Liverpool
• Bankstown
• Lakemba
• Narwee
• Campsie
• Earlwood
• Georges River
• Bayside
• Sutherland
• Haymarket

He also said people in the city of Orange in NSW’s Central Tablelands region and Coffs Harbour on the north coast should get tested.

Originally published as Suburbs in Sydney’s southwest among areas of particular concern as coronavirus outbreak continues